Post Pesach Action

Hello again everyone,

It's very strange to think that Shnat is about to enter its' final month. It feels like just yesterday that the Shnatties had just arrived in the country, eager and enthusiastic for all of the challenges and experiences that lay ahead.

In the week before Pesach, a large number of the shnatties took part in the national network of 'Pasechet' English speaking day camps around the country, through their messimot. These camps are an integral experience for them with their own chanichim in the different regions in which they do messima, and they help them to forge a stronger bond with israeli youth across the board. The day camps are all done in English, to strengthen the confidence of the chanichim in their messimot to use English, and the shnatties are a huge part of the planning process for the camps. The general structure of each camp was an overnight hike, which the shnatties were a part of, as well as between 2 and 3 days in the 'batim' (houses) of Hanoar Haoved where the camps take place.

Then the shnatties had their second chofesh period for the year, during the Pesach national break. It was a time well spent relaxing, catching up with family and friends, and reinvigorating for the last portion of Workshop. The UK chanichim also spent an inspiring few days at the annual Veida with the Bogrim of HDUK. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to hear firsthand the great work that is going on with Habonim Dror in the communities in the UK.

Just two days after their return from chofesh, Israel commemorated Yom Hashoah, the national day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust. All of the shnatties travelled to Kibbutz Lochamei Hagetaot for the national closing ceremony of the day. The ceremony has a special connection and emphasis on the ghetto fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto (given that a large number of them came to Israel after the Shoah and formed the kibbutz), but also has a strong connection with the youth movements. Some of the speakers at the tekkes included Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Chavka Folman Raban - a member of Dror in the Warsaw Ghetto and fighter in the uprising, and Muki Tzur - famed writer and historian of the kibbutz movement. And while it was a bit difficult at times to follow due to the Hebrew, the shnatties were very quick to surround themselves with movement members who could translate the ceremony for them and give it meaning.

The following week was a big week in Israel - Yom Hazikaron (National Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers), followed by Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day). The shnatties headed to their local Yad Lebanim (The memorial for fallen soldiers in every city in Israel) to participate in the tekkes for the beginning of Yom Hazikaron. The following night, they enjoyed the plethora of free entertainment on stages all around the country with some of Israel's biggest singers and musicians for Yom Haatzmaut. Most of the shnatties trekked to Tel-Aviv, one of the hot spots for entertainment on the night, and were not dissapointed! The following day the shnatties took to the parks, in true Israeli fashion, for one of the most traditional Israel yom haatzmaut expressions - the family barbeque.

The shnatties also had their first meeting with their 'Chava achot' (sister chava) from Hanoar Haoved on Thursday. The chavot is the workshop style program of Hanoar Haoved in Israel, where 18 year olds live together for a year and do messima before they start their army service. The shnat group in Karmiel is paired with the chava in Machanayim, which is a kibbutz just south of Kiryat Shemona. It was a wonderful experience, and they will be continuing the mifgashim (meetings) this week, by doing some joint peulot together.

This past weekend the shnatties took part in the May Day Seminar, with participants from all of the English speaking shnat countries. There was 135 chanichim altogether on the seminar, from North America, the UK, Holland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. The seminar focused on the origins of May Day, but also the meaning of union and solidarity in society today, and why societal gaps are such a challenge to overcome in bringing together people in acts and stances of solidarity. We also examined the historical and contemporary role of Habonim within their own societies, and what role we should be playing in creating partnerships for the betterment of society.

Next week the shnatties will be partaking in the May Day march in Tel-Aviv, with all of the Habonim Dror shnat participants, as well as all of the Israeli socialist zionist youth movements. Beyond that, as sad as it seems, we will already be starting the sikkum (concluding) process for what has, up until this point, been an amazing year of growth and personal challenge for the group. They are a wonderful group of dedicated and passionate movement members, who will certainly be a major positive force of leadership within the movement and their communities on their return.

I would like to wish everyone a shavua tov, and a safe week.

Until next time,

Leon.